This is my last day of preparation before TRANSPAC - the sailboat race from California to Hawaii in which I'm participating.  I have to organize all my gear (which is easier for guys who seem able to live in the same clothes for days and days). More >>

With 44 races starting in 1906, the Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii is well into its second century as the longest of the two oldest ocean races in the world.

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The Transpac Race offers excellent venues for the general public to view both the start and finish of the Race.

 

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You can watch their progress at: http://live.adventuretracking.com/transpac2011

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This is a photo of me climbing up the mast of Katana, my sailboat. I am some 70 plus feet off the deck.

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I often mention on my radio program that I have been a competitive sailor for a number of years.  At your request, In today's video, I give you an idea of how sailing "talks" to me, and how I got into this adventurous hobby: More >>

I've been taking lessons in shooting pool now each week for two years.  My teacher, Al Vafa, is a pro:  an interesting, funny, smart, thoughtful guy, and a magnificent pool player. If I am in the right mindset, the average "not that serious" pool player would have a hard time beating me.  Again, that is if I am in the right mindset .  It took the better part of the first year of lessons to stop saying "I suck," to stop crying, getting angry, and even once actually breaking my costly pool cue. This was not just about pool.  This was a metaphor for my life.  More >>

A few weeks ago, I participated in a 45 mile ocean race with 6 other crew members and a 33-foot boat.  There were 10 other competitors in our class.  One of them - a very fast boat-had a handicap rating, which meant that we had to beat them by 20 minutes (in a 61/2 hour race). More >>

Recently, on a Friday afternoon, I had an experience which challenged my fears and comfort level.' I went out sailing in 20-30 knots of wind, with 6 - 8 foot swells, in a very, very narrow boat only 41 feet long.' I have five experienced crew with me.' And I was nervous.Believe you me, it is an intimidating experience when a little sailboat is planing at over 20 knots with gusts and crazy waves.' You don't have a lot of opportunity to think things through or to hesitate - a five degree wrong move and....WIPEOUT!' In the cold water and sloppy big waves, that could mean "man overboard" with the boat temporarily out of control. ( Watch the experience .)I am learning to skipper a boat under these conditions, where you have to run on "feel" and not so much on thinking things through.' I have lots to learn and practice, but whoo hoo!' What a ride!In doing this, I faced rational fear and was out of my comfort zone.' It took 48 hours for me to come down from that exhilaration.' It changes you.' I feel proud of myself; I know I'm getting better and better.' Facing fears and limitations, while scary, leads to such acceleration in joy of life and a growing self-confidence, that it is more than worth the scary moments.As I keep nagging at you folks, things are scary until they become familiar .' Practice and forcing yourself to face the experience time and again gives you familiarity which gives you confidence, and a natural, free, and legal "high." More >>

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